Compressing system

ABSTRACT

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a compressing system including: a casing including an inlet and an outlet; a first compression unit configured to receive an inlet fluid from the inlet and compressing the inlet fluid into a first pressure fluid; a first pressure chamber configured to receive the first pressure fluid; at least one first intercooler unit configured to cool the first pressure fluid; a second compression unit configured to compress the first pressure fluid into a second pressure fluid; a second pressure chamber configured to receive the second pressure fluid; at least one second intercooler unit configured to cool the second pressure fluid; and a third compression unit configured to compress the second pressure fluid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-00105937, filed on Sep. 24, 2012 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a compressing system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Compressors for compressing fluids, such as the air, gases, and steam, are used in various fields and various types of compressors are available.

In the related art, compressors may be categorized into displacement type compressors and turbo type compressors. In more detail, compressors may be categorized into reciprocating compressors, rotary screw compressors, turbo compressors, diaphragm compressors, and rotary sliding vane compressors.

Such a compressor may be used alone. However, if necessary, a multi-stage system may be configured by arranging a plurality of compressors, where the multi-stage system may feature greater compression ratio.

When employing the plurality of compressors, a cooler may be disposed between the compressors for improving system efficiency. For example, Korean Patent Publication No. 2010-0107875 discloses a multi-stage compressive system which requires no separate cooling system due to having coolers disposed between compressors and a coolant circulating structure.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments provide a highly efficient compressing system for compressing a large amount of a fluid.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a compressing system including: a casing, which includes an inlet and an outlet; a first compression unit disposed inside the casing and configured to receive an inlet fluid from the inlet and compress the inlet fluid into a first pressure fluid; a first pressure chamber disposed inside the casing and configured to communicate with an outlet of the first compression unit to receive the first pressure fluid; at least one first intercooler unit disposed in the first pressure chamber and configured to cool the first pressure fluid; a second compression unit disposed inside the casing, configured to communicate with an outlet of the first pressure chamber to receive the first pressure fluid from the first pressure chamber, and compress the first pressure fluid into a second pressure fluid; a second pressure chamber disposed inside the casing and configured to communicate with an outlet of the second compression unit to receive the second pressure fluid; at least one second intercooler unit disposed in the second pressure chamber and configured to cool the second pressure fluid; and a third compression unit disposed inside the casing and configured to communicate with an outlet of the second pressure chamber to receive the second pressure fluid from the second pressure chamber, and compress the second pressure fluid.

The casing may further include an upper casing and a lower casing coupled to the bottom of the upper casing.

The first compression unit may include at least one of an axial compressor and a mixed-flow compressor.

The second compression unit may comprise at least one of a mixed-flow compressor and a centrifugal compressor.

The third compression unit may comprise at least one centrifugal compressor.

The compressing system may further include a single rotation shaft configured to drive the first compression unit, the second compression unit, and the third compression unit.

At least one additional intercooler unit may be provided outside the casing.

The first compression unit may include a movable vane configured to control a change of an amount of the inlet fluid.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a compressing system including: at least three compression units configured to compress a fluid; at least two compression chambers disposed between the at least three compression units, each of the at least two compression chambers configured to communicate with two of the at least three compression units; and at least two intercooler units disposed in the at least two compression chambers and configured to cool the fluid, wherein the at least three compression units, the at least two compression chambers and the at least two intercooler units are disposed inside a casing, and wherein each of a number of the at least two compression chambers and a number of the at least two intercooler units is less than a number of the at least three compression units by one.

The casing may include an inlet configured to provide the fluid to the at least three compression units; and an outlet configured to eject the compressed fluid.

A compression unit of the at least three compression units disposed closest to the inlet of the casing may include at least one of an axial compressor and a mixed-flow compressor.

A compression unit of the at least three compression units disposed closest to the outlet of the casing may include at least one centrifugal compressor.

The compression unit of the at least three compression units disposed closest to the inlet of the casing may include a movable vane configured to control a change of an amount of the fluid.

The compressing system may further include a shaft configured to drive each of the at least three compression units.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a compressing system according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the compressing system according to an exemplary embodiment not including an upper casing and front intercooler units to illustrate the internal structure of the compressing system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the compressing system of FIG. 1 along a line III-III of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 a schematic sectional view of the compressing system of FIG. 1, obtained along a line IV-IV of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the compressing system according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings and specification, like reference numerals are used to elements having substantially like configurations.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a compressing system according to an exemplary embodiment and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the compressing system according to an exemplary embodiment not including an upper casing and front intercooler units to illustrate an internal structure of the compressing system. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the compressing system of FIG. 1 obtained along a line III-III of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 4 a schematic sectional view of the compressing system of FIG. 1 along a line IV-IV of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing configuration of the compressing system according to an exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, a compressing system 100 includes a casing 110, a first compression unit 120, a first pressure chamber 130, first intercooler units 140, a second compression unit 150, a second pressure chamber 160, second intercooler units 170, a third compression unit 180, a rotation shaft 190, a driving motor 195, and a control device 197.

The casing 110 includes an upper casing 111 and a lower casing 112, and the casing 110 is assembled by coupling the upper casing 111 and the lower casing 112 together.

The casing 110 has an overall hexahedral shape, however, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. The first compression unit 120, the first pressure chamber 130, the first intercooler units 140, the second compression unit 150, the second pressure chamber 160, the second intercooler units 170, and the third compression unit 180 are disposed inside the casing 110.

An inlet 113 via which a fluid flows in is formed at a first side of the casing 110, whereas an outlet 114 via which a fluid flows out is formed at a second side of the casing 110.

As shown in FIG. 4, oil is provided in the lower casing 112 to improve lubrication during operation of the compressing system 100.

The first compression unit 120 receives a fluid from the inlet 113 and compresses the fluid. To this end, the first compression unit 120 includes a two-stage axial compressor 121.

The axial compressor 121 includes a first rotation body 121 a, a second rotation body 121 b, and a stator 121 c.

The first rotation body 121 a includes a first hub 121 a_1 and a first blade 121 a_2 installed to the first hub 121 a_1, whereas the second rotation body 121 b includes a second hub 121 b_1 and a second blade 121 b_2 installed to the second hub 121 b_1.

The first hub 121 a_1 and the second hub 121 b_1 are fixed to the rotation shaft 190, and when the rotation shaft 190 rotates, the first rotation body 121 a and the second rotation body 121 b also rotate.

The stator 121 c has a cylindrical tubular shape, and a movable vane 121 c_1 and a fixed vane 121 c_2 are installed on the inner surface of the stator 121 c to guide a fluid. Particularly, a movement of the movable vane 121 c_1 is controlled by the control device 197 to control an amount of fluid.

An inlet 120 a of the first compression unit 120 is formed to communicate with the inlet 113 to receive a fluid from the inlet 113. On the other hand, an outlet 120 b of the first compression unit 120 is formed to communicate with the first pressure chamber 130.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the first compression unit 120 includes the two-stage axial compressor 121. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, the first compression unit 120 may include a single-stage axial compressor, a three or more-stage axial compressor, or a mixed-flow compressor.

Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiment, the first compression unit 120 includes the single axial compressor 121. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, the first compression unit 120 according to the exemplary embodiment may include a plurality of compressors.

Meanwhile, according to the exemplary embodiment, the first compression unit 120 is an axial compressor or a mixed-flow compressor, because an axial compressor or a mixed-flow compressor is capable of easily compressing a large amount of a fluid with a large specific volume and is also capable of compressing a large amount of a fluid more efficiently than a centrifugal compressor.

Meanwhile, the first pressure chamber 130 communicating with the outlet 120 b of the first compression unit 120 is disposed inside the casing 110.

The first pressure chamber 130 is a hollow hexahedral structure via which a fluid of a first pressure flows. The first pressure refers to pressure of a fluid compressed by the first compression unit 120 and is determined based on the efficiency of the first compression unit 120.

The first pressure chamber 130 includes an inlet 130 a and an outlet 130 b.

The inlet 130 a of the first pressure chamber 130 is formed to communicate with the outlet 120 b of the first compression unit 120 to receive the fluid of the first pressure, whereas the outlet 130 b of the first pressure chamber 130 is formed to communicate with an inlet 150 a of the second compression unit 150 to transfer the fluid of the first pressure to the second compression unit 150.

Meanwhile, a pair of the first intercooler units 140 is disposed in the first pressure chamber 130 to face each other and cool a fluid in the first pressure chamber 130.

Although a pair of the first intercooler units 140 is used in the exemplary embodiment, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, one, three, or more first intercooler units 140 may be used.

The first intercooler units 140 may have a hexahedral shape, and the internal structure of the first intercooler units 140 may be an intercooler structure known in the art. In other words, the first intercooler units 140 have heat exchange units to lower temperature of a fluid.

Meanwhile, the second compression unit 150 receives a fluid from the first pressure chamber 130 and compresses the fluid. To this end, the second compression unit 150 includes a mixed-flow compressor 151. In other words, the inlet 150 a of the second compression unit 150 is formed to communicate with the outlet 130 b of the first pressure chamber 130 for receiving a fluid from the outlet 130 b of the first pressure chamber 130. On the other hand, an outlet 150 b of the second compression unit 150 is formed to communicate with the second pressure chamber 160.

Meanwhile, the mixed-flow compressor 151 includes an impeller 151 a and a case 151 b, and has the general configuration of a mixed-flow compressor known in the art.

The impeller 151 a includes a hub 151 a_1 and a blade 151 a_2 disposed at the hub 151 a_1. The hub 151 a_1 is fixed to the rotation shaft 190, and when the rotation shaft 190 rotates, the impeller 151 a rotates too.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the second compression unit 150 includes the mixed-flow compressor 151. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, the second compression unit 150 according to the exemplary embodiment may be a centrifugal compressor.

Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiment, the second compression unit 150 includes the single mixed-flow compressor 151. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, the second compression unit 150 according to the exemplary embodiment may include a plurality of compressors 151.

Meanwhile, the second pressure chamber 160 communicating with the outlet 150 b of the second compression unit 150 is disposed inside the casing 110.

The second pressure chamber 160 is a hollow hexahedral structure via which a fluid of a second pressure flows. The second pressure refers to pressure of a fluid compressed by the second compression unit 150 and is determined based on the first pressure described above and the performance of the second compression unit 150.

The second pressure chamber 160 includes an inlet 160 a and an outlet 160 b.

The inlet 160 a of the second pressure chamber 160 is formed to communicate with the outlet 150 b of the second compression unit 150 to receive the fluid of the second pressure, whereas the outlet 160 b of the second pressure chamber 160 is formed to communicate with an inlet 180 a of the third compression unit 180 to transfer the fluid of the second pressure to the third compression unit 180.

Meanwhile, a pair of the second intercooler units 170 is disposed in the second pressure chamber 160 to face each other and cool a fluid in the second pressure chamber 160.

Although a pair of the second intercooler units 170 is disposed in the exemplary embodiment, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, one, three, or more second intercooler units 170 may be used.

The second intercooler units 170 may have a hexahedral shape, and the internal structure of the second intercooler units 170 may be an intercooler structure known in the art. In other words, the second intercooler units 170 have heat exchange units to lower temperature of a fluid.

Meanwhile, the third compression unit 180 receives a fluid from the second pressure chamber 160 and compresses the fluid to a third pressure. The third pressure refers to pressure of a fluid compressed by the third compression unit 180 and is determined based on the second pressure described above and the performance of the third compression unit 180.

The third compression unit 180 includes a centrifugal compressor 181. In other words, the inlet 180 a of the third compression unit 180 is formed to communicate with the outlet 160 b of the second pressure chamber 160 for receiving a fluid from the outlet 160 b of the second pressure chamber 160. On the other hand, an outlet 180 b of the third compression unit 180 is formed to communicate with the outlet 114.

The centrifugal compressor 181 includes an impeller 181 a, a diffuser 181 b, and a scroll case 181 c, and has the general configuration of a centrifugal compressor known in the art.

The impeller 181 a includes a hub 181 a_1 and a blade 181 a_2 disposed at the hub 181 a_1. The hub 181 a_1 is fixed to the rotation shaft 190, and, when the rotation shaft 190 rotates, the impeller 181 a rotates together.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the third compression unit 180 includes the centrifugal compressor 181. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, the third compression unit 180 according to the exemplary embodiment may include a plurality of centrifugal compressors 181.

Meanwhile, the rotation shaft 190 is installed across the compressing system 100, and is connected to the shaft of the driving motor 195.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the rotation shaft 190 is directly connected to the shaft of the driving motor 195. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, a separate power transmission device, such as a gear device or a belt device, may be disposed between the rotation shaft 190 and the driving motor 195 according to the exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the rotation shaft 190 may be installed to receive a power from another driving shaft (not shown) connected to a turbine shaft (not shown) and to be rotated thereby.

The rotation shaft 190 is supported to the casing 110 via a bearing 191. The bearing 191 may be a rolling bearing, a journal bearing, an air-foil bearing, etc.

The driving motor 195 produces power for rotating the rotation shaft 190, and the control device 197 controls the driving motor 195 and the movable vane 121 c_1 according to a user instruction or a driving program.

Meanwhile, according to the exemplary embodiment, since the first compression unit 120, the first pressure chamber 130, the first intercooler units 140, the second compression unit 150, the second pressure chamber 160, the second intercooler units 170, and the third compression unit 180 are disposed inside the casing 110, the three compression units 120, 150, and 180, the two pressure chambers 130 and 160, and the two intercooler units 140 and 170 are disposed inside the casing 110. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, in the compressing system the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and other compression units, pressure chambers, and intercooler units may be additionally disposed inside the casing 110. For example, the compressing system according to the exemplary embodiment may include four compression units, three pressure chambers, and three intercooler units.

Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiment, the first intercooler units 140 and the second intercooler units 170 are disposed inside the casing 110. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, the compressing system according to the exemplary embodiment may further include an additional intercooler unit, where the additional intercooler unit may be installed not only inside the casing 110, but also outside the casing 110. If an additional intercooler unit is installed outside the casing 110, the intercooler unit and a pressure chamber are connected to each other via a pipe.

Next, an operation of the compressing system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment will be described below.

When a user operates the compressing system 100, the control device 197 operates the driving motor 195. As a result, the rotation shaft 190 rotates, and as a result the first compression unit 120, the second compression unit 150, and the third compression unit 180 are driven. In detail, the first rotation body 121 a and the second rotation body 121 b of the axial compressor 121 of the first compression unit 120 rotates, and the impeller 151 a of the second compression unit 150 and the impeller 181 a of the third compression unit 180 rotate.

When the first compression unit 120, the second compression unit 150, and the third compression unit 180 are driven, a fluid flows from the inlet 113 of the casing 110 into the inlet 120 a of the first compression unit 120. Since the fluid is not compressed, the fluid has a relatively large specific volume.

Next, the fluid is compressed to a first pressure in the first compression unit 120. Since the first compression unit 120 includes the axial compressor 121 suitable for low-pressure compressing a large amount of a fluid having a large specific volume, the first compression unit 120 is highly efficient for compressing a large amount of a fluid having a large specific volume. Furthermore, the control device 197 controls a change of an amount of a fluid by using the movable vane 121 c_1 to maintain the optimal efficiency.

Next, the compressed fluid moves to the first pressure chamber 130 communicating with the outlet 120 b of the first compression unit 120.

The first intercooler units 140 are disposed in the first pressure chamber 130 and cool the fluid in the first pressure chamber 130, thereby reducing the work of the compressing system 100.

Next, the fluid cooled by the first intercooler units 140 flows into the inlet 150 a of the second compression unit 150 communicating with the outlet 130 b of the first pressure chamber 130.

Next, the second compression unit 150 compresses the fluid to a second pressure. The second compression unit 150 includes the mixed-flow compressor 151 because the mixed flow compressor 151 is more efficient for compressing a fluid having a relatively small specific volume, compared to the axial compressor 121.

Next, the compressed fluid moves to the second pressure chamber 160 communicating with the outlet 150 b of the second compression unit 150.

The second intercooler units 170 are disposed in the second pressure chamber 160 and cool the fluid in the second pressure chamber 160, thereby reducing the work of the compressing system 100.

Next, the fluid cooled by the second intercooler units 170 flows into the inlet 180 a of the third compression unit 180 communicating with the outlet 160 b of the second pressure chamber 160.

Next, the third compression unit 180 compresses the fluid to a third pressure. The third compression unit 180 includes the centrifugal compressor 181 because the centrifugal compressor 181 is more efficient for compressing a fluid having a relatively small specific volume, compared to the mixed-flow compressor 151.

Next, the compressed fluid moves to the outlet 114 communicating with the outlet 180 b of the third compression unit 180.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment, since the first compression unit 120 includes an axial compressor, a large amount of fluid having a relatively large specific volume may be easily compressed and the compression efficiency may be improved.

Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiment, since the first pressure chamber 130 and the second pressure chamber 160 are disposed inside the casing 110 and the first intercooler units 140 and the second intercooler units 170 are respectively disposed inside the first pressure chamber 130 and the second pressure chamber 160, respectively, the compression work may be reduced and noise from the first compression unit 120, the second compression unit 150, and the third compression unit 180 may be reduced.

Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiment, since the movable vane 121 c_1 is installed at the axial compressor 121, a change of an amount of a fluid may be controlled to improve the efficiency of the compressing system 100, if necessary.

Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiment, since the first compression unit 120, the first pressure chamber 130, the first intercooler units 140, the second compression unit 150, the second pressure chamber 160, the second intercooler units 170, and the third compression unit 180 are disposed together inside the casing 110, the volume of the compressing system 100 may be reduced, and convenience for assembly and maintenance of the compressing system 100 may be improved.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the compressing system 100 includes three compression units 120, 150, 180. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, the number of compression units according to the exemplary embodiment is not limited. For example, the compressing system 100 may include a fourth compression unit and a fifth compression unit. In that case, it is desirable that the fourth compression unit and fifth compression unit are centrifugal compressors.

While exemplary embodiments have been particularly shown and described above, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compressing system comprising: a casing comprising: an inlet; and an outlet; a first compression unit disposed inside the casing and configured to receive an inlet fluid from the inlet and compress the inlet fluid into a first pressure fluid; a first pressure chamber disposed inside the casing and configured to communicate with an outlet of the first compression unit to receive the first pressure fluid; at least one first intercooler unit disposed in the first pressure chamber and configured to cool the first pressure fluid; a second compression unit disposed inside the casing, configured to communicate with an outlet of the first pressure chamber to receive the first pressure fluid from the first pressure chamber, and compress the first pressure fluid into a second pressure fluid; a second pressure chamber disposed inside the casing and configured to communicate with an outlet of the second compression unit to receive the second pressure fluid; at least one second intercooler unit disposed in the second pressure chamber and configured to cool the second pressure fluid; and a third compression unit disposed inside the casing and configured to communicate with an outlet of the second pressure chamber to receive the second pressure fluid from the second pressure chamber, and compress the second pressure fluid.
 2. The compressing system of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises: an upper casing; and a lower casing coupled to the bottom of the upper casing.
 3. The compressing system of claim 1, wherein the first compression unit comprises at least one of an axial compressor and a mixed-flow compressor.
 4. The compressing system of claim 1, wherein the second compression unit comprises at least one of a mixed-flow compressor and a centrifugal compressor.
 5. The compressing system of claim 1, wherein the third compression unit comprises at least one centrifugal compressor.
 6. The compressing system of claim 1 further comprising a single rotation shaft configured to drive the first compression unit, the second compression unit, and the third compression unit.
 7. The compressing system of claim 1, wherein at least one additional intercooler unit is provided outside the casing.
 8. The compressing system of claim 1, wherein the first compression unit comprises a movable vane configured to control a change of an amount of the inlet fluid.
 9. A compressing system comprising: at least three compression units configured to compress a fluid; at least two compression chambers disposed between the at least three compression units, each of the at least two compression chambers configured to communicate with two of the at least three compression units; and at least two intercooler units disposed in the at least two compression chambers and configured to cool the fluid, wherein the at least three compression units, the at least two compression chambers and the at least two intercooler units are disposed inside a casing, and wherein each of a number of the at least two compression chambers and a number of the at least two intercooler units is less than a number of the at least three compression units by one.
 10. The compressing system of claim 9, wherein the casing comprises: an inlet configured to provide the fluid to the at least three compression units; and an outlet configured to eject the compressed fluid.
 11. The compressing system of claim 10, wherein a compression unit of the at least three compression units disposed closest to the inlet of the casing comprises at least one of an axial compressor and a mixed-flow compressor.
 12. The compressing system of claim 11, wherein a compression unit of the at least three compression units disposed closest to the outlet of the casing comprises at least one centrifugal compressor.
 13. The compressing system of claim 11, wherein the compression unit of the at least three compression units disposed closest to the inlet of the casing comprises a movable vane configured to control a change of an amount of the fluid.
 14. The compressing system of claim 9 further comprising a shaft configured to drive each of the at least three compression units. 